Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has convened formal discussions with the British Medical Association to avert industrial action by junior doctors in March.

On 10 March 2023, the Government invited the British Medical Association (BMA) junior doctors committee (JDC) to enter formal pay negotiations on the condition strikes were paused.

My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care met the BMA JDC on 22 March in the hope of beginning constructive talks to resolve the current dispute. The BMA placed a pre-condition on these talks of a 35% pay rise. This is unreasonable.

The Government wants to find a fair settlement which recognises both the crucial role of junior doctors and the wider economic pressures facing the United Kingdom.

We are disappointed that the BMA have announced further strike action. They are planning to stage a 96-hour walkout taking place for shifts between 06:59 on Tuesday 11 April and 06:59 on Saturday 15 April. Further strikes will risk patient safety and cause further disruption.

Our door remains open to constructive conversations, as we have had with other health unions, to find a realistic way forward which balances rewarding junior doctors for their hard work with being fair to the taxpayer.